At Churchill our purpose is “to inspire and enable young people to make a positive difference.” The primary way our students do this is by making a positive difference to themselves through the process of self-improvement: learning new things, building their knowledge, enhancing their skills, developing their confidence and character. Every day, in every way, we all get better.

As staff working at Churchill, our goal is inspire and enable those young people to make those positive differences. Every day, I look back on the events of the day and reflect on the things that we have done which have helped students (and staff) to improve. What have we taught them? How have we helped? What problems have we been able to solve? It’s a good way to stay positive, because every day we know we have made a difference.

As the Headteacher, my role is about school improvement: making a positive difference to Churchill Academy & Sixth Form. As I look back over the time that I have worked at the school, I am really proud of the positive differences I can see. I see this in the fabric of the Academy: the Alan Turing Building, the Athene Donald Building, the rebuilt Stuart and Lancaster block, the redecorated Sports Hall, the new Pool Hall and facilities in the sports centre building, even the resurfaced coach loop! All these things make a positive difference to the daily experience at school.

I also see it in the positive differences we’ve made to our processes, policies and approaches. The improvements we’ve made in teaching and learning; the improvements we’ve made in behaviour; the improvements we’ve made in our systems. And we continue that work every day, looking to keep on getting better.

And finally, I see it in the people who work here – those who’ve been here longer than me, and those who have been appointed under my watch. We have an amazing team of staff, all of whom are dedicated to the Academy’s mission and purpose. It’s a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals, all of whom are striving to make children’s lives better.

Improvement is a work in progress, and it always will be: but I am proud to think that the Academy is continuing that work every day. We will never be perfect – and that is what keeps the job interesting. There is always more to learn. We can always get better. And we will.